Washington Wrap Up

We came to Washington kinda stressed while hanging our butts out on the line a little bit with quitting two stable jobs, renting our house, and diving into travel nursing with the first contract cancelled before it got started.  With all that, coming to Washington had other stressors, like working night shifts, rainy weather, etc.

After three months, we've come to the conclusion that Washington is a bipolar place.  When the sun is out, it's one of the coolest places either of us have been.  The Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, the coast, it's all amazing.  Then there's the other half of the time, when it's cloudy, raining, foggy, and dark.  Those days are pretty rough on us, as we are accustomed to the desert.

All in all, it was a great, but difficult time here (night shift sucks).  We are glad we came here and got to explore the area for three months and we feel like we really got a feel for it.  That said, we are both excited to be leaving in four days to travel to the Sonoran Desert.  A place we both love, and can't wait to explore more.  We would like to come back here, but we both think the best way would be when travelling to Alaska in the summer, or for a month in July to just hang out and not work.

We're contracted to be in Arizona through mid-March, but we might stay a month longer if the job is good and we are enjoying it down there.  After that, probably Utah for a bit, then hopefully Alaska, but who knows.  We are both hoping to get to Alaska in the next few years so we can check out the Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea, NW Territories, and the Arctic Ocean.

Last Ocean Days

The sting in the tail of this work assignment, five consecutive night shifts. Thankfully, the last 10 days or so have been sunny and nice, just a little morning fog here and there.

Marine Biology Lesson

Went down to the water at high tide and watched a seal 15ft of shore feeding on fish with sea gulls swooping in for scraps.

As usual, better to watch it in person than on the internet with an iPhone camera (buying a DSLR soon).

Fish head from seal carnage.

Seal head, seagull, Rainier, smog.

Ready To Go

We're ready to get outta here and head to the desert.  8 more days and no more night shifts and the persistent insomnia and low grade fatigue that comes with working against all of natures laws of sleep and wake times.  The idea of a bigger fifth wheel and debt is immediately erased by the loss of financial freedom that comes with it.  Primarily, the inability to 'coast' between assignments (because of some stupid RV payment) until a day shift position is found.  Nope, not going there.

Rock throwing post brain dead night shift.

Fly fishing in the ocean.

Kingston Ferry

Cold morning ride then a Kingston ferry looking for Orca.  Didn't see any, but people have been seeing them here and north to Admiralty Inlet.

Binoculars

Olympic Mountains

Mt. Baker

Sun And Sea Lions

Lots if crystal clear blue skies, and for some reason (chum salmon), tons of active sea lions feeding right off shore with sea gulls competing for scraps.  Fun show to watch.

Terrible iPhone photo of sea lions.

Sunshine

Lots of it this week, but nearing winter solstice, the sun never rises above the high horizon made by tall trees.

Stuck Inside

So far, November rains are here and on track to get the average 6+" of rain this month. That means ugh, can't wait to go to Arizona in two weeks.  I guess we deserve it after the dry October.

"Doing Dishes!"  Alex wanted to come in out of the rain today to do just that.

Whidbey Island

Stellar sunset and boat ride looking for whales.  Did not see any, but saw a ton of big sea lions feeding all over the place.

Cool coffee shop.

Waiting for the ferry.

Small trees.

Big guns.

Watching the 7 knot tide current rush out.

Olympic Mtns at sunset.

New Moon and New Stuff

Alex noticed the New Moon out of nowhere yesterday, then this morning he got a gift from a fellow camper.

Learning Risk

Alex's behavior is becoming increasingly risky.  Jumping off of picnic tables, rolling down the gravel pile, running and crashing his trike, etc.  Then he comes back to Mommy and instantly says "hewrt", telling her he got hurt on his big adventure.  Liar.